Switching broadband is simple. But to make the process even easier and ensure you’ve got all the information you need, here we’ve answered the questions we’re most often asked by uSwitch site users.

What is broadband?

Broadband is any type of high-speed internet access — typically ADSL, fibre, cable or mobile — that’s faster than a dial-up connection and is always on.

What are the different types of broadband?

The three main types of broadband are:

ADSL: ADSL refers to broadband that runs over your copper phone wires. This is the most common type of broadband.

Fibre or cable broadband: Both fibre broadband and cable broadband run over fibre-optic cables, which transmit data much faster than older, traditional copper wires. The difference between the two is that fibre broadband to the cabinet — which is what most people have — is then transmitted from the cabinet to your home via copper phone wires. Cable broadband connects your home to the cabinet via coaxial cables, which also transmit data faster than copper wires.

Mobile: Accessed through a dongle or data-only SIM, mobile broadband connects to the internet the same way your smartphone does. Nowadays, most mobile broadband is 4G, offering speeds comparable to more traditional broadband.

What do I need to get broadband?

It depends on the type of broadband you’re getting. Typically, broadband requires an active phone line, hence the ‘line rental’ charges. Both ADSL and fibre broadband use copper wires to deliver broadband from the cabinet to your home. Most providers can install this for a fee, though, so if you don’t already have a phone line, you can still get broadband. If you have cable broadband or ‘full fibre’ broadband, you don’t need a phone line.

Can I switch at any time? Are there any restrictions?

If you’re out of contract you can switch broadband provider at any time and won’t be liable for any early termination charges.

However, if you’re still within your contract term or haven’t reached the minimum period that your provider insists on, it’s likely you’ll have to either pay up your contract or pay a charge.

The exception is if, during the contract term, the provider you want to leave increases the price of the monthly subscription you agreed to when you signed up. In this case you’re free to leave without any financial penalty.

How do I know if I’m out of contract?

Ideally you’ll have noted down when your contract started. At uSwitch, we offer a contract reminder service for account holders. But if you haven’t recorded the start date, don’t worry — just ring your provider and ask. They’re legally obliged to tell you if you’re still under contract, as well as when your contract ends.

Will I lose my broadband service at any stage?

That depends on which type of provider you’re switching to and switching from.

If you're switching between providers on the Openreach network — which covers a lot of major providers, including BT, TalkTalk, Plusnet and Sky — switching is seamless and easy. Simply contact your new provider and they'll coordinate the start date with your current provider. This should result in minimal downtime for you.

To switch to or from Virgin Media, you'll need to contact both providers and coordinate the start and end dates to avoid overlap or downtime.

Do I need a MAC code to switch broadband?

No. MAC codes used to be a part of the switching broadband process but have since been scrapped. They were abolished in a bid to streamline broadband switching for consumers.

Want to know more about switching broadband deals? Head to our dedicated guide.

How do I know which broadband deals are available to me?

While millions of Britons who live in cities get to choose from a host of ADSL, mobile and fibre broadband deals and providers, others aren’t so lucky.

To see which broadband deals are available to you, use our broadband postcode checker. Just insert your postcode in the text box provided and it’ll show you all the broadband deals on offer at your address.

Most of the deals on our tables are for new customers only. If you tell us who your current provider is, we can filter out new customer deals and show you any existing customer deals we currently have.

Which broadband is best?

It depends on your household needs.

Fibre broadband deals — such as Virgin Media’s Vivid service, BT Infinity and top-end products from the likes of Sky, TalkTalk and Plusnet — provide the fastest home broadband connection, which is ideal for large households or heavy broadband users.

Sign up for fibre broadband and you can expect to stream TV smoothly and uninterrupted (even when it’s HD programming). You’ll also get a much better online gaming experience, with no annoying ‘slowdowns’ in the action.

But the catch is that fibre broadband isn’t available in some locations. If that’s the case in your area, you’ll need to consider a standard ADSL broadband deal. Or even mobile broadband or satellite broadband.

How do I compare broadband deals?

This is where our broadband comparison tables come in. Using these, you can filter by speed, price, contract length and download limit to make it easier to find the broadband deals that most closely meet your criteria.

With millions of visitors and switches every month plus exclusive home and mobile broadband deals to suit every budget and need, uSwitch Broadband is the UK’s number one broadband comparison site.

We scour the entire market and the leading broadband providers to bring you the top broadband, TV and home phone offers and use our market position to secure market-leading exclusive deals that you won’t find anywhere else.

So if you’re looking for a top-of-the-range TV bundle or want to check out great value broadband only deals, we’re confident we’ve got what you’re looking for.

Comparison tools and tables

To take the strain out of switching, our comparison tables highlight the offers recommended by our team of broadband experts. You can buy with absolute confidence and be certain you’re getting the best broadband deal.

Want to make sure you’re getting what you’re paying for? uSwitch’s broadband speed test is free to use and lets you check the speed of your home or mobile broadband connection in seconds.

It can also tell you how your broadband speed compares with other homes in your area, as well as other providers so you can see exactly what’s available to you.

Broadband news and guides

Updated daily, our news section keeps you abreast of everything from surveys of the fastest broadband providers and new money-saving offers to ongoing drive to improve super-fast broadband coverage across the UK.

You’ll also find handy guides to help you make informed buying decisions and bite-sized breakdowns that get you up to speed with new broadband technology.

If you need to know the difference between standard ADSL broadband and fibre broadband or want some tips on switching broadband, this is where you’ll get the assistance you’re looking for.

How does uSwitch Broadband make money?

When you sign up for broadband through uSwitch we’re paid a fee in commission from the broadband provider you choose.

The commission income enables us to offer a free service to compare broadband deals and allows us to develop broadband comparison tools we offer on the site.

uSwitch Broadband awards

Decided by public vote and an expert panel of judges, the annual uSwitch broadband awards are the industry’s most respected, prestigious awards.

If we name a provider as the UK’s best for home broadband, mobile broadband or customer service, you can be sure it’s an award that’s well merited.

Want to see who was named best broadband provider? Find out the answer and much, much more at our dedicated broadband awards page.

* The "average" speed displayed in Mb represents the speed available to 50% of customers with this product during peak time (between 8pm and 10pm). The actual speed you will get depends on your cabling, your area and (with non-fibre optic products) time of day and how far you are from the telephone exchange. Most providers will tell you the likely speed you will receive when you begin your online sign up — this may differ from the average speed displayed on our table.

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